52904WACertificate IIICurrent

52904WA Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways

52904WA is the nationally accredited Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways. It prepares you for work as an engineering production workers. It has been the current version on the national register since 2022, when it replaced 52864WA. Employers posted about 182 engineering production workers jobs in June 2026, down 12.3% on a year earlier.

Often searched as Cert 3 in Defence Industry Pathways · Register data synced 29 Aug 2026 from training.gov.au
Online job ads · June 2026
182last month
Engineering production workers roles advertised across Australia
Down on a year earlier
Long-term outlook
Mixed
Two structural signals up; current job ads down
Register status
Current
Replaced 52864WA in 2022
Enrolments
Rising fast
Up 152.4% in a year
Funding status
Verification pending
Checked against official state program lists
The short answer

The signals behind the Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Employment is projected to grow through 2035 and enrolments are rising. Job ads in June 2026 were down 12.3% on a year earlier and the official shortage list does not rate its occupations in shortage. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.

Jobs and Skills Australia

Is the work there?

Employers are posting fewer engineering production workers jobs than a year ago. About 182 engineering production workers jobs were advertised online in June 2026, down 12.3% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months there were about 2,200 job ads, while 265 people were training in the course nationally (2025). Ads show the market. Enrolments show the pipeline. Neither is a job promise.

Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index · latest month June 2026 · ANZSCO 7123
182
Combined monthly online job ads across Engineering Production Workers, to June 2026

Official shortage list

Australia's official shortage list rates engineering production workers as not in shortage. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates Engineering Production Worker as not in shortage.

Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List · 2025 assessment

Ten year outlook

Engineering production workers jobs are projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 23,027 workers in May 2025, 24,487 by May 2030 (up 6.3%) and 25,706 by May 2035 (up 11.6%).

23,027
workers, May 2025
24,487
workers, May 2030
25,706
workers, May 2035
Jobs and Skills Australia employment projections · May 2025 to May 2035
Occupation mapping by Get Course, shown with ANZSCO codes so it can be checked.
NCVER Total VET Activity

Who is training

More people are choosing the Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways every year. Across Australia, 105 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 265, up 152.4% in a year. National data for 52904WA starts in 2024.

NCVER Total VET Activity · 2025 collection
training.gov.au · Australian Qualifications Framework

What does studying it involve?

The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.

How long it takes
A Certificate III is typically 1 to 2 years of full-time study under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Providers set the exact length and pace.
Delivery
Providers set the delivery mode.
Credit for experience
Recognition of prior learning applies to 52904WA like any program on the national register: an approved provider assesses your evidence against each unit.
training.gov.au national register; Australian Qualifications Framework.
State subsidised training lists

What does it cost, and who funds it?

State funding for 52904WA is being verified against official program lists.

Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.

Official state subsidised training program lists, verified per state. Full-fee prices will appear here as partner courses are listed.
Where to study

Where can I study 52904WA?

No Get Course partner currently lists this course. Check the national register for organisations approved to deliver it, and remember that approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. You can browse live courses from our partners and enquire today.

Browse courses
How we calculate these figures

Get Course maps 52904WA to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 7123) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index latest month June 2026; Occupation Shortage List 2025 assessment; register training.gov.au, synced 29 August 2026; register synced 29 Aug 2026. Page last updated 30 Aug 2026.

About this page. Every number on this page shows its source and date. Register data synced 29 Aug 2026 from training.gov.au. Compiled by Get Course from public data sources. It is not provided or endorsed by any training organisation, and nothing here is advice about your individual situation. Statistics describe groups; your result depends on you. If you represent a training organisation and want to correct or add to this page, contact hello@getcourse.com.au.